Machine for treating grain.



C. R. & J. N. HARLESS.

MACHINE FOR TREATING GRAIN.

APPLICATION FILED JULY/17.1914.

WMMmo A Patented Jul 27, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

Elma/whom 61R.Harbes COLUMBIA PLANOGRAFK c0.,wAsmNu'roN, D. C.

c. R. & J. N. HARLESS.

MACHINE FOR TREATING GRAIN. APPLlCATlON FILED JULYQH. I914.

Patented July 27, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

17Z-7/arZ ess.

C. R. & J. N. HARLESS.

MACHINE FOR TREATING GRAIN.

APPLlCATlON FILED JULY 17. 1914. 1,148,087.

Patented July 27, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEETK C. 2%, Ha r2683. a J/kifwrzessz rnLUMBIA PLANOURAPH $0.,WASHINGTON. D- C.

CHARLES R. r-rannnss AND JASPERN. I-IAELESS, or DAYTON, WASHINGTON.

MACHINE FOR TREATING GRAIN.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 27, 1915.

Application filed. July 17,1914. Serial No. 851,570.

T all whom it may concern Be it known that we, CHAnLEsR. HAR- LESS andJAsrnn .N; Hannnss, citizens of the United States, residing at Dayton,1n

the county of Columbiaand State ofVVashington, have invented certain newand useful Improvements in Machines for Treating Grain, of whichthefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to grain treating machines andv more particularlyto a machine for use in carrying out the blue vitriol or formaldehydeprocess of treating wheat, oats, barley, and other grain, for smutty ordiseased conditions, and it isone aim of the invention to provide amachine for the purpose stated which may be readily operated and whichwill be adapted to treat a large quantity of grain at each operationoandin a rapid and yet thorough manner.

The invention further has as its object to provide a grain treatingmachine for carrying out either of the processes, above mentioned, whichmachine will be adapted to first subject the grain to the blue vitriolor formaldehyde solution and then be capable of operation to thoroughlydrain the grain and finally deposit the same in sacks.

4 Another aim of the invention is to so construct the machine that itmaybe operated by one person and yet be capable of treating a largequantity of grain at each operation.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a top plan view of the machineembodying the present invention. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation thereof.Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the grain receiving trough of the Imachine. Fig. 4 is a-vertical front to rear sectional view through themachine, illustrating the trough in position to subject the graincontained therein to the blue vitriol or formaldehyde solution. Fig. 5is a view similar to Fig. 4:, illustrating the trough partly moved todumping position. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of one of the slats ofthe trough. Fig. 7 is a sectional view of the trough.

Correspondingand like parts are referred to inthe following descriptionand inclicated in all the views of the accompanying drawings by the samereference characters.

The machine embodying the present invention includes a tank for holdingthe solution with which the grain is torbe treated, a trough in whichthe grain is deposited for treatment and which is arranged to lie withinthetank during the process of treatment and adapted to be elevated topermit of draining of the solution from the grain, and afhopper intowhich the grain is to be 7 discharged fromthe trough, which hopper isarranged to support a number of bags or sacks to receive the grain.

In the drawings the numeral 1 indicates the two ends of the machinebetween which the tank and hopper are mounted and these ends 1constitute the endwalls of the tank and hopper, as will presently bemade apparent. Legs 2 are secured in any suitable manner to the ends 1and serve to support the-machine, The forward wall of the tank isindicated by the numeral 3 and is secured at its ends in rabbets 4 inthe opposing sides of the ends 1, the rear wall of the tank beingindicated by the numeral 5 and being similarly mounted between the saidends 1. In order to securely hold the ends 1 against theendsof the frontand back of the tank, tie-rods 6 are fitted at their ends through theends 1 and extend transversely adjacent the upper and lower edges of thefront wall 3, and these tie-rods also project through the forward, legs2 and-are provided with the usual nuts 7 There are also provided, forthe purpose stated, tie-rods 8 and 8 which are fitted through the ends 1and which extend transversely in rear of the rear. wall 5 of the tank.The bottomof the tank is indicated by the numeral 9 and in order tobrace the said bottom, tie-rods 10 are ,fitted through the lowerportionsof the front and rear walls 3 and 5 and extend from front torear beneath the said bottom and are. tensioned by means of nuts 11. Asbefore stated,the ends 1 constitute the end walls of the tank. In ,orderthat .at the completion of, the operation of treating the grain, thesolution may be drained ofifrom the tank, a plugv onfaucet 13isprovidedpreferably at one end wall of'the tank.

The grain receivingtrough includes end walls 1 1, a forward wall 15, arear wall, indicated in general by. the numeral 16, and a bottom,indicated in general by the numeral 17. The end walls and forward wallof the trough are imperforate but the rear wall and bottom thereof areforaminous to permit of the solution contained within the tank reachingthe grain and further permit of the draining of the solution from thegrain after the processof treatment has been completed. As stated, therear wall and bottomof the trough are foraminous and each wall ispreferably made up of a number of slats so formed and assembled as toform a grid, the slats comprising the bottom being supported between thefront wall 15 and one of a pair of rails constituting the members of therear wall 16 between which rails the slats of the rear wall aresupported. In order that the trough may be readily moved into and out ofthe tank upon its supporting hinges, as will be presently explained, theforward wall 15 of the trough is inclined downwardly and inwardly and isformed adjacent its ends with gains 17 in which are fitted the forwardedges of the end walls 14. The lower rail of the trough at the backthereof, is indicated by the numeral 18 and is formed in its upper sidewith a longitudinally extending groove 19 and in its forwardly presentedside with a longitudinally extending groove 20. The upper rail isindicated by the numeral 21 and is formed in its under side with alongitudinally extending groove 22. In order to securely bind and holdthe walls of the trough in assembled relation and also the rails 18 and21, suitable lengths of strap metal 23 are secured each at one end, asat 24-, to the upper edge of the respective end wall 14 and each is thenextended downwardly beside the outer face of the forward wall 15 andrearwardly beneath thelower edge of the said wall and about the rail 18and thence upwardly and about the rail 21, the other end of the stripbeing secured, as at 25, to the upper edge of the respective end Wall14. As a further means for bracing the walls of the trough, anothersuitable length of strap metal is provided and is secured at one end, asat 26, to the upper side of the rail 21 at a point midway between theends thereof and is thence extended downwardly and beneath the rail 18and thence forwardly and beneath the lower edge of the forward wall 15and upwardly beside this wall and secured thereto in any suitablemanner, as at 27. The other end of the strap is bent upon itself to forma loop 28 lying above the upper edge of the said forward wall 15 andserving as a connection for the means provided for binding the trough,as will be presently pointed out. In order that the rails 18 and 21 maybe braced with relation to the end walls 14 of the trough, and viceversa, each rail is formed in its forwardly presented face and adjacenteach end with a gain 29 and the rear edges of the end walls 14 areformed with tongues 30 which fit these gains. The slats comprising theback or rear wall 16 of the trough are indicated by the numeral 31 andone of these slats is clearly shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings. Each slat31 has one lateral edge cut away or recessed as at 32, and the upper andlower end of each slat is rabbeted, as at 33, so as to provide tongues34 which are slidably fitted in the grooves 19 and 22, as clearly shownin Figs. 3, 4 and 5 of the drawings. In assembling the slats between therails, the slats are arranged edge to edge, the cut away edge of eachslat, being disposed against the straight edge of the adjacent slat sothat relatively narrow slots 35 are formed between the slats to permitof the How of the solution into the trough and the draining of thesolution therefrom. The slats comprising the bottom of the trough areindicated by the numeral 36 and, as in the case of the slats 31, each ofthe slats 36 lias'one lateral edge cut away as at 37 the arrangement ofthe slats being the same as previously described. The inner face of theforward wall 15 of the trough is formed with a longitudinally extendinggroove 38 and the slats 36 are slidably fitted at their ends in thisgroove and in the groove 20. The slats 31 and 36 are preferably formedof wood, and inasmuch as when they are subjected to the solution theyare liable to swell, means is provided for permitting of such swellingand for holding the series of slats in close contact with each other.The means mentioned consists of leaf-springs arranged one at each end ofthe trough, these springs being indicated by the numeral 39, and eachbeing disposed diagonally of the lower rear corner of the respective endwall of the trough and secured in place by means of a screw 40 uponwhich the springs may have pivotal movement when it is desired to removeor replace any of the slats. Each spring projects at one end 41 beyondthe rear edge of the respective end wall and bears at its said endagainst the adjacent end of the series of slats 31 and at its other end42 projects below the lower edge of the respective end wall and bearsagainst the adjacent end of the series of slats 36. It will now beapparent that the springs 39 serve, by bearing against the opposite endsof the two series of slats, to hold the slats in close relation to eachother and yet permit of the expansion of either series due to swelling.It willalso be apparent that either spring may be turned upon the screw40 as a pivot, so as to permit of the removal of the slats. In order tohold each spring normally against such movement, a stop pin or screw 43is secured through the springs adjacent the screw 40 and into therespective end wall of the trough.

In order that the trough may be so mounted as to permit of its beingmoved to position to permit of draining of the solution from the grainand to permit of the grain 'being dumped into the hopper of the machine, the trough is hingedly mountedupon the rear wall of the tank in amanner which will now be explained.

Suitable lengths of strap metal 44 are socured to the rear sides of therails 18 and 21,

the lower ends of the straps being bent to extend beneath the lowersides of the rails 18, as indicated by the numeral 45. The upper ends ofthe straps 44 are overturned upon themselves, as at 46, so asto formpintle eyes located at the upper and rear sides of the trough. Pintles47 are secured in the upper edge of the rear wall 5 of the tank and havetheir pivot portions 48 projecting laterally toward one end of the tank,and into the pintle eyes 46, a pin 49 being fitted transversely throughone of the said portions 48 so as to prevent accidental disengagement ofthe eyes 46 from the said portions 48. It will be apparent, however,that by removing the pin 49 and shifting the trough laterally in thedirection in which the free ends of the portions 48 are presented, thetrough may be dismounted for repair or cleaning.

As before stated, the grain after having been drained is dumped into ahopper arranged for the support of bags or sacks to receive the grain,and this hopper includes a forward wall 50 which extends between theends 1 immediately rearwardly of the rear wall 5 of the tank and whichis inclined downwardly and rearwardly, as clearly shown in Figs. 4 and 5of thedrawings. A rail 51 also extends between the ends lrearwardly ofthe wall 50 and in spaced relation thereto and is inclined downwardlyand forwardly and spaced from the rear side of the said wall 50. A strip52 is secured to the forward edge of the rail 51 and projects below thesaid rail and occupies a plane parallel to the wall 50. The strip 52 isformed at intervals with recesses 53 and the lower portion of the wall50 is formed with re cesses 54 located in alinement with the rev cesses53. A number of division pieces 55 are secured between the wall 50 andstrip 52 in the manner clearly shown in Figs. 1, 4 and 5 of the drawingsand each division piece is formed in its under side with a recess 56registering with corresponding recesses 53 and 54. The division pieceshave their upper sides oppositely inclined or beveled, as at 57, so thatthe mass of grain deposited in the hopper will be divided by the saidpieces 55. In advance of each recess 53, a hook 58 is secured to theunder side of the rail 51 and spurs or hooks 59 project rearwardly fromthe wall 50 at points mid way between the recesses 54 therein. Byreference to Figs. 2, 4 and 5 of the draw ings it will be observed thatthe sacks which are to receive the grain, and which are indicated by thereference character S, are to be engaged with the hooks 58 and spurs 59with the edges of the mouth of each sack fitting within the recesses 53,54 and 56. It will furthermore be apparent that by the arrangement abovedescribed, the hopper is provided with a number of spouts, each receivedwithin a bag tobe filled and that waste of grain is in this mannerprevented.

In order that the grain trough may be swung up to draining position andsubse 'quently tilted to discharge its contents into the hopper, a lever60 is pivotally mounted ,at itslower end in a bracket 61 at the upperside of the wall 50 of the hopper and has pivotally connected to it, asat 62, a rod or ,link 63 which at its other end is formed clutch thesame when the lever has been swung to the desired position.

In the operation of the device, assuming the trough to be in positionwithin the tank, a suitable quantity of blue vitriol is placed withinthe trough and the proper quantity of water added thereto, or a solutionof formaldehyde is poured into the trough. In the. use of blue vitriol,the mixture is thoroughlystirred until the crystals have dissolved. Inthe use of either solution the grain is introduced thereinto and thewhole thoroughly stirred so that all portions of the mass of grain willbe subjected to the solution. After the stirring operation, the scum orsmut which rises to the top of the solution is removed, as also anyparticles of foreign matter and imperfect grains, after which the rope68 is pulled to swing the lGVGlGO so as to move the trough nearly to theposition shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings. The trough is allowed toremain in this position until. the solution has been properly drainedfrom the grain, after which the rope is further pulled so as to move thetrough to about the position shown in Fig. 5, in which position thegrain will be discharged therefrom into the hopper and the mass of grainwill be divided by the division pieces 55 and directed into the severalsacks or bags supported by the said hopper. In the initial operation ofthe machine, the bags are allowed to remain upon the hopper until theoperation above described has been repeated, up to and including thestep of draining the grain, at which point the bags may be removed andothers placed in position to receive the grain, when the trough is againtilted to discharging position.

If found desirable, hooks 58 may be located between the recesses 53 andin fact, the arrangement of these hooks and the spurs 59 may be variedin any manner desired. Also as a means for more firmly holding thebottom slats in place, a beveled ceiving trough and eXtendslongitudinally above the ends of the said slats.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is: I

1. In a grain treating machine, a tank, a trough within the tank movableto draining position with respect to the tank and a series of slatscomprising one Wall of the trough and slidably removable, and meansyieldably bearing against one end of the series of slats whereby toyield-ably resist expansion of the series.

2. In a grain treating machine, a tank, a trough within the tank movableto draining position with respect to the tank and a series of slatscomprising one wall of the trough and slidably removable, and meansyieldably bearing against one end of the series of slats whereby toyieldably resist expansion of the series, the said means being movableout of engagement with the slats whereby to permit of removal of theslats.

3. In a grain treating machine, a tank, a

.; trough within the tank movable to draining position above the same,and a hopper having a plurality of independent discharge spouts andhaving division pieces dividing the said spouts and arranged to deflectgrain discharged into the hopper simultaneously through the severalspouts, and bag supporting means associated with the spouts.

4. In a grain treating machine, a tank, a trough within the tank movableto draining position with respect to the tank, the trough includingends,a front, a back and a bottom, the back of the trough including spacedrails having grooves, a series of slats slidably removably fitted attheir ends in the grooves and having relatively spaced edge portions,the said front of the trough and the lower one of the rails havingopposing grooves, and a series of slats fitted at their ends slidablyand removably in the lastmentioned grooves and comprising the bottom ofthe trough.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures in presence of twoWitnesses.

CHARLES R. HARLESS. [Ls] JASPER N. HARLESS. [L.S.] IVitnesses:

- N. P. CAHILL,

J. M. DUNLAP.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, D. C.

